(+G) Tribunal to Discipline Civil Servants

Fiji Live reports another step in the Government's "clean up" campaign: a tribunal to hear serious cases within the civil service.

A Public Service Disciplinary Tribunal will be established soon to speed up the Fiji Governments’ initiatives in achieving an accountable and professional Public Service. Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said the most time consuming cases are mainly the disciplinary cases from various ministries and departments. These cases are partly heard or deferred to a later date, due to the time consuming process of disposal, each case takes. He said over the years, the Public Service Commission has been dealing with various cases in the Public Service, most of which had to be heard over two to three days or more to conclude.

“Further delays are caused since the more important pressing cases that urgently require the Commission’s decisions takes precedence over the disciplinary cases.” He said that the establishment of the tribunal will provide adequate time for the Commission to concentrate on more serious and important matters of national interest and enable it to achieve its core objectives.

The tribunal will be made up of three members with a legally qualified person with not less than seven years post bar admission experience, as chairperson. The chairperson is to be appointed by the Commission in consultation with the Prime Minister. The other two members appointed are to be retired civil servants at director level or above and are to be appointed by the PSC. Members of the Tribunal will be appointed on a three year contract, which will be renewable. The Public Service (Discipline) Regulation 2009 will be formulated to govern the functions and operations of the Tribunal. FijiLive